Tuesday, 30 August 2011

I do not know that I have your correct email, so I am writing to you on the blog.....

Could you please bring the inchies to Briancon so that Miss Arkell can do her inches? Do not worry if you have not finished your inchies yet - you can do so there. Julie thought it would be really nice to get hers done while in France and then pass them to Jodie, perhaps.

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Hello Violets! I must apologize as it is 'summer silly season' and I haven't had much chance to be blogging or on the internet, as life is at it's busiest for me!

Another violet alerted me to your post Jone, so I thought I better put your mind at ease that the inches are still with me (in my safe, but not so competent hands!) I was going to post a picture just before posting, but I will do so now.

The inchies arrived last month from the lovely Sam in Sweden and I am slowly working my way through them.

Albeit not a complicated inchie, I am just a little pressed for time at the moment but will send them on their way very shortly.I asked the lovely Laura Walker (whom I noticed got a mention in Mollie Makes Magazine this month) to make me some rather lovely red flower buttons and hopefully they will enhance the inches where my talent is lacking!

When the inchies arrived, they did so in a rather beautiful bag which I thought I would include apicture of...I think Jone must have stitched this? It's gorgeous! I was so impressed with everyone's inchies! its going to look great when it's finished.I hope you are all having a lovely summer and I am looking forward to catching up with some of you in France...not long now!Happy stitching x

Friday, 19 August 2011

Hellooo dear Pantry Violets!
So long since I posted here that I thought I would show you what I spent my very hot summer holidays doing.....mad collaged russian dolls! some of which look very confused about thier head gear! We were knee deep in newspaper and mountains of ephemera and while everyone was topping up their tans I was tearing, cutting and gluing these dollies.
Hope that you are all having a wonderful summer, wherever you all are....miss you all and am feeling sooo sad about not going to France this September!
xxxxx

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Have just returned from the fabulous LSA Rachel Hazell workshop where we made a personal A-Z. What a fabulous five days it was! Rachel is a great communicator and a hell of a woman - her enthusiasm and humour is contagious - she is truly ebullient as well as being hugely talented. I will post pics of some of the changes they have made at LSA which is yet more fabulous - but not too many - I dont want to spoil the surprise for Becky and Sam!

It was a special joy to meet Jo - who was with you all 2 years ago - it made me feel right at home to have another Pantry Violet and such a lovely one for company. Jo sends her love to you all! We had 13 women plus Rachel and the spirit of support and encouragement started immediately, in the entire time I didnt hear a negative comment from anyone - how remarkable is that!

Here are some pictures of my book ......

The front cover - made from last year's calendar page - showing the kettle stitch binding:

The back cover showing my dobber bookmark!

And one of A is for Art, which features one of my all time favourite quotes - from Picasso as well as showing of my index. When Rachel showed us a lovely book with tabs and gilding I remembered how much I like an index so that was my first job - it took me half a day but I love the result:
Then a couple of my favourite pages - I was determined to incorporate watercolours (which I love but do badly) they are done on vintage papers which really add something I think. I love a painted shutter too - so V is for view features a shutter and L is for Landscape has a little pull out which I am mightily pleased with - the L swivels away to allow the painting to extend - howszat!!

And finally, just so you know I didn't forget you all! Guess what P is for ????????????

~ the petals are articulated - get me!!

I didn't completely finish my book, but Im looking forward to adding things as I think of them and I'm really happy with the results so far - Taylor I'm loving this idea for a journal - lots of pictures and stamping - what do you think??

Monday, 8 August 2011

I was given the assignment to come up with different things to make from the "Believe" collection of fabric..... and so I sat down to make this little Fairy.

back view

sitting on a spool of thread

I think that one of my favorite parts is that she has recycled wings! I cut them from a strawberry container and I think that they are just perfect for her. It is a bit difficult to see them in these photos, but trust me - they are definitely there!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer. Sorry I have been remiss in keeping up with birthdays. This month of August is:

About Us

"Pantry Violets" are women who met by chance in the Dordogne in France. We came from many different places and walks of life with as many different experiences - each of us knowing that for some reason we needed to be there. Through the course of 6 days, we swam in a salt water pool, ate magnificent food prepared by our hosts, strolled the beautiful grounds, stitched as it drizzled and danced in the sun, rummaged through brocantes, shared stories and ideas, secrets and dreams. We found friendship, inspiration, laughter, tears, simplicity, peace and a strong common bond. We embraced the creative spirit we found in one another and allowed our own to soar. It came to be much more than a workshop. We found new "life long" friends and true, kindred spirits.

We have created this blog to challenge and inspire one another and to continue to look at life and creativity in a whole new way, from a different perspective. We will continue to share our thoughts and feelings and bring our affection for each other to this venue.

Our enduring thanks to Julie Arkell for bringing us together for the little "slice of heaven" we experienced and for her enthusiasm in our creations. We are beyond grateful for her generosity and her willingness to share her knowledge, imagination and graceful spirit.

We also thank Katie, Mike, Carol and Dave for absolutely everything they did for us and for the beauty they live with each day that they so easily shared with us.